Hey there, it’s Moriah. I know it’s been a while; I’ve just been so busy it’s been hard for me to write back to you. So I want to tell you about this play, Fires in the Mirror. I watched a 6-part made for television version and it really struck me, I feel like you would be very moved by this story as well. It’s based on a real life event, which occurred in Crown Heights. This Jewish man lost control of his car, it jumped the curb and ended up hitting and killing this young African American boy, who was learning how to ride his bike on the side walk. The whole story is told through one person, but she portrays so many characters. These characters were created through real interviews conducted of the Crown Heights community. There are Jewish opinions, African American opinions, and so many other viewpoints. It really highlights what was going on in that community at that time, and how much tension there was between these two groups. Thinking of you and me, being Jewish, it made me wonder how we would have responded in such a situation. The Jewish religion is not one of violence and shame, and as a person I know that I believe that accidents happen and sometimes the best you can do for yourself is forgive. As a community I would think the Jewish people would come together and sit Shiva for this little boy – you know, the ceremony we do for those who have passed. It would be hard, not being a part of the community of the boy who died, to really truly feel what they felt, but I would like to think that I would try and advocate for a peaceful mourning of both groups, together. I feel like the fighting is a waste of energy, and we shouldn’t leave this group of people to mourn this lose alone. If there is tragedy struck on one community of people, by a different community, especially if this tragedy is unintentional, I really believe in both groups coming together to be there for one another. I wanted to know your take though, given that your mom’s side of the family is African American.
Hey there, it’s Moriah. I know it’s been a while; I’ve just been so busy it’s been hard for me to write back to you. So I want to tell you about this play, Fires in the Mirror. I watched a 6-part made for television version and it really struck me, I feel like you would be very moved by this story as well. It’s based on a real life event, which occurred in Crown Heights. This Jewish man lost control of his car, it jumped the curb and ended up hitting and killing this young African American boy, who was learning how to ride his bike on the side walk. The whole story is told through one person, but she portrays so many characters. These characters were created through real interviews conducted of the Crown Heights community. There are Jewish opinions, African American opinions, and so many other viewpoints. It really highlights what was going on in that community at that time, and how much tension there was between these two groups. Thinking of you and me, being Jewish, it made me wonder how we would have responded in such a situation. The Jewish religion is not one of violence and shame, and as a person I know that I believe that accidents happen and sometimes the best you can do for yourself is forgive. As a community I would think the Jewish people would come together and sit Shiva for this little boy – you know, the ceremony we do for those who have passed. It would be hard, not being a part of the community of the boy who died, to really truly feel what they felt, but I would like to think that I would try and advocate for a peaceful mourning of both groups, together. I feel like the fighting is a waste of energy, and we shouldn’t leave this group of people to mourn this lose alone. If there is tragedy struck on one community of people, by a different community, especially if this tragedy is unintentional, I really believe in both groups coming together to be there for one another. I wanted to know your take though, given that your mom’s side of the family is African American.
Write back soon, I miss you,
Moriah